My $3400 M3

[Ryan...]

Yeah i'm typing faster than I was thinking there, I'll be checking it while I"m doing the rest of the stuff like valve cover gaskets. I'm preparing for the fact that it may need replacing.

[justin_l_]

WTF are you doing a head gasket? That is one of those thing that if it ain't broke don't fix it...

[Ryan...]

I know nobody really cares, but I'm gonna keep updating this shit because it's therapeutic lol

Just spent over $120 on the M3 today, bought the new Tranny mount with bushings, the heatshield that goes between the driveshaft and exhaust (my feet were roasting!), and I'm about to grab some new hood shocks to keep my hood up.

Next up is to start sourcing all the goodies for the tranny rebuild, along with all the stuff for a proper cooling system overhaul: radiator, fan, aluminum thermostat housing, thermostat, and waterpump for sure. While I'm digging apart the engine I'll probably do the headgasket. All in all, if I can find some mechanically inclined friends to help work on it, I know I'll be spending at least $150 on parts for the tranny, at least $350-400 for the cooling system parts, and the head gasket alone is over $200. Its gonna be an expensive next month :D

Question: when tearing all this stuff apart, is there anything else you guys think I should do as a precautionary measure? I think by doing the headgasket and cooling I have all my basics covered...?

[Ryan...]

the bushing that holds the aluminum shift towere to the tranny and the clip that holds it in

is that something I wouldn't be able to take off the car and reuse? I've never had to work on a tranny before in my life, so excuse my complete lack of understanding lol

[blunttech]

Shoot I just bought that brace on ebay for $40 shipped with bushings. What bushing and clip are you talking about?



Haha yeah I hear you, this one seems to pull very, very well. No odd noises, and I"m starting to gather parts for a full cooling overhaul.

the bushing that holds the aluminum shift towere to the tranny and the clip that holds it in

[Ryan...]

ryan I have a used e36m3 tranny brace in great shape with good tranny mounts here. I also have that bushing and bitch clip you need. If you like I can send it with the other stuff you ordered

Shoot I just bought that brace on ebay for $40 shipped with bushings. What bushing and clip are you talking about?

Well maintained examples just keep going. Somehow, that rule that applies to most other BMW's includes E36's. My M3 just rolled over 175k last week or something and it's still rock solid. Pulls like an ox and does everything right. I've never had any problems with it since I bought it at 138k (well, other than the typical extreme coolant system failures, although I wasn't with the vehicle at the time..). One of the customer cars I service is at 350k and it is pristine. Original paint and interior-- you could pull it onto the showroom lot and 90% of women would think it was a new 2011 model. That in itself is sad, but you know what I'm getting at.

Haha yeah I hear you, this one seems to pull very, very well. No odd noises, and I"m starting to gather parts for a full cooling overhaul.

[rThor432]

It has 167k miles, seems like the Vanos is fine..

Well maintained examples just keep going. Somehow, that rule that applies to most other BMW's includes E36's. My M3 just rolled over 175k last week or something and it's still rock solid. Pulls like an ox and does everything right. I've never had any problems with it since I bought it at 138k (well, other than the typical extreme coolant system failures, although I wasn't with the vehicle at the time..). One of the customer cars I service is at 350k and it is pristine. Original paint and interior-- you could pull it onto the showroom lot and 90% of women would think it was a new 2011 model. That in itself is sad, but you know what I'm getting at.

[blunttech]

ryan I have a used e36m3 tranny brace in great shape with good tranny mounts here. I also have that bushing and bitch clip you need. If you like I can send it with the other stuff you ordered

[Ryan...]

Yea I guess it's not all that bad. If you're uncle can hook you up on the body work that will help allot.

There will be allot of little things that it's going to need though. If its anywhere close to 100,000mi then all the bushings and shocks/struts are likely shot. You can get E36 Ms for cheap these days, but the cheap ones tend to be money pits. Hopefully you got lucky.

How is the VANOS? How many miles are on the car?

It has 167k miles, seems like the Vanos is fine, the only experience I have with Vanos is from the old e39 M5 I had..
It does have Bilsteins and H&R lowering springs already on it. I also plan on replacing all other suspension bushings in the near future, once the larger problems are figured out. I know the front lower CABs will need to be done relatively soon..

[//MPower]

I would say this is most def not a parts car, everthing in it operates correctly, interior/engine, all it needs is some dent removal and minor paintwork to finish the exterior, and the tranny issues.

Yea I guess it's not all that bad. If you're uncle can hook you up on the body work that will help allot.

There will be allot of little things that it's going to need though. If its anywhere close to 100,000mi then all the bushings and shocks/struts are likely shot. You can get E36 Ms for cheap these days, but the cheap ones tend to be money pits. Hopefully you got lucky.

How is the VANOS? How many miles are on the car?

[rThor432]

That's a good price for a cool car. I'll be honest-- In most cases I'd rather have a $3,400 E36 M332is (I mean, it's got a 3.2L M52..) than a $3,400 E30 M3. Have you seen what $3,400 gets you for an E30 M3 (generally, excepting one-in-a-million deals)?? A money pit, 99% of the time. Usually takes $7-10k to bring a $3,400 E30 M3 up to decent driving shape. $3,400 can really buy a nice E36 M in today's market.

Congrats.

God.... I feel like I've been tricked into walking into a bedroom expecting to find two hot half white half asian girls and all I get is a fat black chick.

It's interesting that you had the exact opposite feeling of most of the other people in this thread.

[Ryan...]

wait what?

yes sir, I am that stupid.

[assoutE12]

What?!?!?!?!?!?! I could've sworn the PO said it was an e30....

wait what?

[parkerbink]

That's not an E30.

Nothing gets by you!

[Ryan...]

Nice find. The E36 M3 is a nice car, but the cheap ones take allot of money to get them where they need to be.

Looks like a parts car candidate to me, but with allot of time, work, and money it could be nice again. Good luck with the project.

Full cooling system replacement is a must. Also, the oil pump nut on the oil pump sprocket can back off unexpectedly, resulting in an instant and total loss of oil pressure, although it's a rare occurance.

I would say this is most def not a parts car, everthing in it operates correctly, interior/engine, all it needs is some dent removal and minor paintwork to finish the exterior, and the tranny issues.

That's not an E30.

What?!?!?!?!?!?! I could've sworn the PO said it was an e30....

We aim for getting on the track around 11.

Ok I should be able to come for a while, and I'll be sure to bring a helmet!